546 Mr. Yarrell on the Osieologi/ 



the dorsal vertebrae. Proceeding from thence forwards, the 

 great size of the muscles of the scapulae and neck was apparent, 

 filling up the whole space, the back and upper portion of the 

 head forming one continued line. The thick plate of scales 

 covering the frontal portion of the head was without difficulty 

 separated from the surfaces of the singular bony processes of the 

 OS frontis ; the projecting cartilaginous portion of the nose was 

 removed with the skin, and the tendons of several muscles giving 

 motion to the snout were cut through. 



The hinder portion of the body still remained to be separated 

 from the skin, and this was found to be a matter of some diffi- 

 culty. The posterior and inferior portions of the sacrum on each 

 side were firmly united by distinct attachments, differing in 

 form, to certain scales of the truncated extremity of the outer 

 covering. 



The necessity of preserving this outer covering entire ren- 

 dered a division of these portions of bone necessary, and from 

 the particular form of the part, this was attended with some 

 hazard, but was ultimately accomplished without injury, the 

 bones being cut through as near to, and as parallel with, the 

 inner surface of the plates, as their confined situation would 

 admit. The covering of the tail was separated from the vertebrae 

 as far as the flattened extremity, where the greater elongation 

 of the transverse processes of the last four vertebrae, and the 

 tenuity of this flattened portion, made further separation diffi- 

 cult. The tail was then divided between the tenth and eleventh 

 vertebrae, and both parts of the animal entirely separated. 



On the inner surface of the removed skin were two long, 

 broad, and thin muscles, extending the whole length of the back; 

 each muscle was divided, as it approached the shoulder, into two 

 portions ; the outer one was attached to the superior and greater 

 spine of the scapular bone, the inner and longer slip proceeded 

 forwards, and was inserted into the transverse occipital ridge. 

 The posterior extremity of each muscle was attached to the 

 superior edge of the spine of the ilium. 



Adhering to the skin lining the truncated portion, were two 

 sacs, which had been lodged in cavities on each outer side of 



